As the title suggests, this a collection of hands. The format will be familiar to those who have seen Larry's other CDs: the 'reader is walked through each hand interactively, and given a series of decisions to make at critical points in the bidding and play. The software is from Bridge Base, so members of Bridge Base Online will be right at home with the general 'look' and 'feel', but in fact even newcomers to computer bridge should find the whole thing very straightforward and easy to use. (There's a gentle introductory section to explain and demonstrate the features).

This is not a CD for the novice player. Familiarity with standard bidding is assumed, and the play problems are, in general, quite advanced. However, the running commentary and analysis are exceptionally clear and comprehensive, so most regular players will have no problems 'keeping up'.

Obviously what we look for in a product like this is entertainment and instruction. Do we get them? A resounding YES in both cases.

In the introduction Larry explains he has been 'hoarding' these hands for 25 years, waiting for the right format to present them, and they are wonderful - intriguing, bizarre, amusing, and exciting by turns. Furthermore, they all have something out-of-the-ordinary - no small feat given how much has been written about the game in the past 70 years!

The risk with a collection of 'unusual' or 'brilliant' deals is that we tend to think of them as something too remote from our normal bridge: 'Oh yes, that's a clever textbook play but I could never do anything like it in real life'. That is NOT the case here. Larry takes enormous pains to show that, however spectacular the winning action appears, it IS possible to find it, using only simple, logical steps and careful attention to detail. (One example that springs to mind is the Jack of Clubs switch on hand 29). Furthermore, the 'themes' which have a wider application are clearly picked out (e.g. hand 15 incorporates an excellent mini-article on the basics of when, why and how we should false-card as declarer).

The thing that comes through above all is the author's enormous enthusiasm for the game. (He even includes 8 'bonus' hands as a little extra that he couldn't bear to leave out). He loves finding a tricky winning line himself, but seems to get just as much satisfaction from watching his partner find one - or even from suffering a crushing defeat because an opponent does!

In short, the majority of bridge players should enjoy and benefit from this CD. Highly recommended.

Larry's CD, an ABTA Software of the Year winner this year (2005), is available at your local bridge supply house, or through Larry's website, www.larryco.com.